Denver's Reserves Outscored the Starters by 35, and Still Lost
The Clippers loss showed Denver's bench can carry minutes; a new injury report shows the Nuggets still don't know who starts at forward beside it.
Denver's reserves outscored the starters 70-35 in Wednesday's 110-122 loss at the Clippers, with Trevon Brazile and Cam Whitmore combining for 39 points off the bench. A day later, word came that Julian Strawther will undergo an MRI after injuring his leg, adding a third name to a wing picture that already included Spencer Jones and DeMar DeRozan.
What actually broke the game open
Denver was tied at 24 after one quarter and still within two points, 55-58, at the half. The Clippers won the third quarter 38-26 to go up 96-81, and that gap is what Denver never closed. The bench actually won the fourth, 29-26, led by DaRon Holmes II's 8 points, but by then the deficit was too large to matter.
The reserves did their job
Trevon Brazile scored 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and Cam Whitmore added 17 on 7-of-13, both playing more than 20 minutes. Jamal Murray made 6 of 8 shots for 14 points in 17 minutes, and Aaron Gordon logged only 14 minutes. In preseason, that split is a choice, not a problem: Denver is using these games to find out what Brazile and Whitmore can give the rotation, not to win them.
A third name joins the wing watch
On Thursday, Denver confirmed Julian Strawther will undergo an MRI after injuring his leg; he is now day-to-day with a left knee issue. DeMar DeRozan went day-to-day the same day for rest, and Spencer Jones has been day-to-day with a leg injury since October 2, with an eventual return targeted for the opener. That is three wings with three different clocks, one week before Denver has to pick a rotation that counts.
The open question
With the opener at Oklahoma City on October 22, Denver still has one more preseason test, Friday at the Lakers, to sort its forward minutes before the real clock starts. Whether Strawther, Jones and DeRozan are all available by then, and in what order Adelman trusts them, is the question this roster can't answer until it happens.
How serious is Julian Strawther's leg injury?
Denver has said only that he will undergo an MRI after injuring his leg and is now listed day-to-day with a left knee issue; no further diagnosis has been reported.
Who stood out for Denver in the loss to the Clippers?
Trevon Brazile led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and Cam Whitmore added 17; Denver's bench outscored its starters 70-35 overall.
